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The air in the alley changed instantly.
The sea breeze was blocked out by high walls, leaving only a dull, damp, and cold smell mixed with rust and decaying garbage.
The sky overhead was squeezed into a narrow strip of brightness; the light couldn't reach down, leaving everything around shrouded in a dim, surreal tone.
The flagstone path underfoot was uneven, with puddles of stagnant water reflecting the two blurred figures.
Even in a city as picturesque as Sootopolis City, such shadows existed.
Deino stopped in front of a fork in the road, its small head sniffing left and right before finally locking onto the deeper, darker alleyway to the left.
Just then, a thin figure flashed past from deep within the alley.
That's him!
The figure sensed the movement behind him almost instantly. His body stiffened abruptly, and then, like a startled stray cat, he bolted deeper into the alley.
"Acting so guilty, it must be him!"
Wallace's voice was kept very low, but it couldn't hide a hint of excitement.
"The build and characteristics match up."
Ariel nodded, his gaze already dead-locked onto the back of the fleeing man.
The man wasn't running very fast, and his movements were far from agile. It was more like a pure instinctive reaction driven by fear, using both hands and feet in a pathetic scramble.
A trace of doubt rose in Ariel's heart.
Would the Gym Apprentices really be repeatedly shaken off by someone of this level?
He didn't have time to overthink it and directly ordered the Deino ahead:
"Stop him!"
Receiving the command, Deino let out a low growl. Its limbs exerted force, and its speed suddenly surged, its black figure stretching into a straight line in the gloom.
The man in front heard the movement behind him and glanced back, the color draining from his face.
He panicked even more, stumbling and falling flat on the ground with a dull thud.
But his will to survive was extremely strong. He scrambled up using both hands and feet, not even pausing to brush off the dust, and continued to limp forward.
Ariel's brow furrowed deeper.
This physical ability... it was a bit too poor.
Forget it, catch him first.
The alley reached a dead end at a high wall covered in moss; there was nowhere left to go.
The man turned around in despair, his back pressed tightly against the cold, damp wall. Watching the approaching Deino, he screamed in terror:
"Don't come any closer! Stay away!"
Deino stopped, a threatening purr emanating from its throat. Its dark, hollow eyes (though it couldn't see) were fixed in the man's direction, radiating immense pressure.
Ariel and Wallace walked up unhurriedly, flanking him on both sides to block all possible exits.
Wallace crossed his arms, regaining his signature elegant posture, though there wasn't a trace of a smile in his eyes.
"Tell us, why are you running?"
This question seemed to ignite the last bit of pathetic self-esteem in the man's heart.
His face turned bright red, half from fear and half from anger, as he roared at the two of them:
"What business is it of yours if I run! You're overstepping!"
One of his hands was pressed tightly against a pocket at his waist, where the outline of a Poké Ball was visible.
"I'm warning you, don't push me!"
He shouted with forced bravado, as if that was his final trump card.
The air suddenly went silent.
Ariel and Wallace exchanged a look, both seeing a hint of gravity in the other's eyes.
They stopped in their tracks simultaneously.
Ariel's mind raced.
To be able to cause chaos in the market, injure people, and escape the Sootopolis Gym Apprentices multiple times, this guy's Pokémon was definitely not simple.
Was it something extremely fast, like a Manectric?
Or something that could use illusions, like a Misdreavus?
Or perhaps a Fighting-type Pokémon that was powerful but small in size?
No matter which one it was, in such narrow terrain, a battle would be quite troublesome.
Since the opponent acted so emboldened, he might really have some hidden ace up his sleeve.
"Deino, stay alert."
Ariel spoke in a low voice, but it only made the atmosphere more tense.
Wallace also turned slightly, his hand casually resting on his belt, ready to release a Pokémon at any moment.
Seeing their wary expressions, the man seemed to regain a bit of confidence. With a trembling hand, he pulled out the red-and-white Poké Ball from his pocket.
"You forced my hand!"
He used all his strength to smash the Poké Ball onto the ground.
"Go!"
A flash of white light erupted.
Ariel and Wallace's hearts leaped into their throats, their eyes fixed on the spot where the white light was dissipating.
The light faded.
A Butterfree with beautiful patterns on its wings flapped lightly in mid-air, scattering bits of powder.
"..."
"..."
The alley fell into a dead silence.
Even Deino tilted its head, seemingly confused as to why no threatening aura was coming from the opponent.
The expression on Ariel's face froze.
He had imagined dozens of possibilities, even fleetingly considering a Legendary Pokémon.
But he never would have guessed it would be a Butterfree.
This was it?
Injuring people in the market? The Gym Apprentices couldn't catch it?
With this thing?
Beside him, Wallace's serious expression of facing a formidable foe hadn't even fully faded before the corners of his mouth began to twitch uncontrollably.
Ariel raised his hand expressionlessly and uttered two words toward the Butterfree still circling gracefully in the air.
"One-shot it."
Deino didn't even need any extra movement; it opened its mouth, and a highly concentrated burst of Dark-type energy surged out instantly.
Boom!
The highly concentrated Dark-type energy erupted from Deino's mouth.
It was a dark-colored orb of light, devoid of unnecessary visual effects, possessing only pure destructive power.
The light orb slammed into Butterfree's body.
The powder defense it took such pride in didn't even last half a second before disintegrating.
Butterfree's body stalled in mid-air for a beat, then fell straight down, hitting the uneven flagstones.
Its wings hung limply, having lost the ability to fight.
The man's hand, holding the empty Poké Ball, froze in mid-air.
His fingers were still in the throwing position.
His mouth was half-open, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down, unable to produce even a single syllable.
He stared blankly at the Butterfree on the ground, then looked up at the Deino tilting its head.
He hadn't expected his ultimate trump card to fail to withstand even a single move from the opponent.
Ariel didn't give the man any more time to daze off.
He stepped forward, his feet making a monotonous clicking sound on the stones.
The sound startled the man. He retreated repeatedly, his legs shaking uncontrollably.
His heel tripped over a protruding brick, and he fell flat on his back.
Before he could scramble up, Ariel was already in front of him.
He leaned down and raised his hand.
The side of his palm struck the man's carotid sinus.
The force was perfectly calculated.
The man's protest caught in his throat, his eyes rolled back, and his body went limp like a puddle of mud.